The Big Buck Hunter Summer Training Tour party
challenged players across the city to make their favorite bar/restaurant the
top hunting lodge. Stats' customers responded, playing more than 2,300 rounds
(about 75 players per day) during July.

The Big Buck Hunter Summer Training Tour party challenged players across the city to make their favorite bar/restaurant the top hunting lodge. Stats' customers responded, playing more than 2,300 rounds

The friendly folks at Stats Sports Bar & Grille are good sports. No more so than when it comes to playing Big Buck Hunter. The arcade-style video game allows players to hunt big game such as wildebeest, moose, bear and lions.

Stats regulars recently turned out in droves to play Big Buck Hunter as part of national promotion by the game's maker.

The Big Buck Hunter Summer Training Tour party challenged players across the city to make their favorite bar/restaurant the top hunting lodge. Stats' customers responded, playing more than 2,300 rounds (about 75 players per day) during July. Their nearest competitor, BFE Rock Club at 11528 Jones, played 1,114 rounds.

For the win, the players will have the opportunity to challenge 2011 and 2012 Ladies World Champion Sara Erlandson Thursday night when she stops by Stats for a Big Buck Hunter party.

The public is welcome to the 7-10 p.m. event, which will include extra Big Buck Hunter HD games - four in total - with free play all night, a high-score cash tournament and a shoot-out competition with Erlandson. There also will be a raffle with Big Buck Hunter prizes and game-themed drink specials.

Expect a line to challenge champ Erlandson. Among those anticipating their shot at the champ are Stats regulars and employees who helped the bar earn the party.

Rose Cordova, 25, is a member of the wait staff and a fierce hunter after just two months of playing the video game. "I'm very competitive," Cordova said, "and playing is better than sitting at the bar getting sloshed."

Cordova likes to hunt elk and kudu and says deer are the hardest game to bag in the virtual hunt.

Lamar Frisby, a 27-year-old tech writer/legal assistant, began playing Big Buck Hunter in college. "I lost a lot," Frisby said, "then I got mad and decided to become better."

And that he did. Now he's perennially the high scorer at Stats.

"It's an entertaining game," Frisby said, adding that "it's a good way to burn a few hours."

Thirty-something Kelly Folly plays the game at bars all over the Houston area.

"I kinda make the rounds," Folly said, adding that she prefers to play during the off hours at the bars.

And it's not really play for Folly, who is ranked 14th in the world on the arcade game and has been to two national championships.

"I'm very competitive. I'm psycho for (the game)," said Folly, who has earned more than $900 in 2013 playing the game competitively.